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Can we create the "perfect" farm? - Brent Loken

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  • 45,229 Questions Answered
  • TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

About 10,000 years ago, humans began to farm. This agricultural revolution was a turning point in our history and enabled the existence of civilization. Today, nearly 40% of our planet is farmland. Spread all over the world, these lands are the pieces to a global puzzle we’re all facing: in the future, how can we feed every member of a growing population a healthy diet? Brent Loken investigates.


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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Brent Loken
  • Director Luísa M H Copetti
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Luísa M H Copetti
  • Animator Danila Rbeiro, Murilo Jardim, Luísa M H Copetti
  • Compositor Gabriel Maia
  • Art Director Luísa M H Copetti
  • Sound Designer Gabriel Maia
  • Music Gabriel Maia
  • Hype Executive Producer Gabriel Garcia
  • Hype Line Producer Taíla Soliman
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Agriculture and farming have evolved with human civilization, and it will continue to evolve as our knowledge about agriculture, ecosystem, and technology grows. How can we implement sustainable framing practices and conserve the planet’s existing farmland?

Want to turn your knowledge about agriculture into action? Take part in the Project Drawdown Ecochallenge. Learn all about food, agriculture, and land use as you take easy daily steps outlined by the Project Drawdown team. To learn more about the future of farming and how we can produce food without damaging the environment, read this report by the World Resources Institute and this blog by the Cornell Alliance for Science. We often associate agriculture with farmland, but did you know that we can farm under the ocean as well? Learn more about underwater farms from this TED-Ed lesson. Another type of farming is vertical farming, which is more popular in urban areas. Lastly, read this blog to learn how young people around the world are reshaping agriculture and the way we farm.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Brent Loken
  • Director Luísa M H Copetti
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Luísa M H Copetti
  • Animator Danila Rbeiro, Murilo Jardim, Luísa M H Copetti
  • Compositor Gabriel Maia
  • Art Director Luísa M H Copetti
  • Sound Designer Gabriel Maia
  • Music Gabriel Maia
  • Hype Executive Producer Gabriel Garcia
  • Hype Line Producer Taíla Soliman
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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